Multidirectional nonoscillating electric fans



A. MIELE Dec. 30, 1969 MULTIDIRECTIONAL INONOSCILLATING ELECTRIC FANS Filed Nov. 16, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet l Fig '1.

ttLrLFtI FlLtrL INVENTOR.

Dec. 30, 196-9 A. MIELE MULTIDIRECTIONAL @NONOSCILLATING ELECTRIC FANS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed NOV. 16, 1967 Fig 2.

INVENTOR.

United States Patent US. Cl. 415119 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Ventilating fans of generally rectangular or square configuration having multiple blower means and a plurality of directional guide vanes to provide a flow of air in one or more directions.

The invention relates to ventilating fans and more particularly to fans having multiple blower means and a plurality of adjustable louvers to provide an uninterrupted dispersion of air in numerous directions.

Therefore the principal object of the novel and improved ventilating fan is to provide an uninterrupted dispersion of air in one or more chosen directions.

Another object of the invention is that because of its design and shape it can be utilized in various ways such as a window fan, a floor fan, a wall fan etc.

Concisely stating in accordance with one embodiment of the invention, the device is provided with two propellers and a plurality of adjustable louvers. The two propellers are either rotated about a common axis of rotation or two separate axis of rotation.

The improvement in ventilating fans which is considered characteristic of the invention is explained in the appended claims. The additional objects; the advantages; the construction; and the method of operation thereof will be more clearly understood from the attached and more detailed description and when read together with the accompanying drawing.

Referring to the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a front pictoral view of the fan embodying the invention in one housing.

FIG. 2 is a side diagrammatic view illustrating the approximate path of air flow through fan housing embodying the invention, and also showing a'first propeller having two shaft couplings, each mounted on separate shafts.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the invention showing two conventional propellers secured to one common motor shaft.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the fan showing two propellers independently secured to two separate shafts.

FIG. 5 is a front view of two halves of a removable barrier panel.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view of the lower and upper sliding tracks and showing in part, apertures of the left and right sliding slots.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the protective screen secured to front of fan housing.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged sectional view of FIG. 2 along the plan of line 2525 showing front ball-bearing bracket with ball-bearing inserted.

Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawing, the improved ventilating fan will be seen to comprise one embodiment herein regarded as the fan housing 1 having a plurality of adjustable louvers 2.

The arrangement of the components contained within the embodiment of the invention may be better understood by referring to FIG. 2. A motor 3 is secured to the motor mounting bracket 4 by two bolts 5 and two nuts "ice 6. Attached to the motor shaft 7 is the modified rear propeller 8 having a front shaft coupling 9 and a back shaft coupling 10. Inserted and secured to the front shaft coupling 9 is an extension shaft 11 of sufficient length. Two removable barrier panel halves 12 are inserted through their respective apertures 20 on both sides of fan housing 1, located between air intake screens 16 and louvers 2. An upper and lower sliding track 20 is fastened to top and bottom of interior of fan housing 1 perpendicular to two sliding slots 19. Each barrier panel half shown in FIGS, 1, 5 and 7 is inserted through its respective sliding slot 19 and slid along upper and lower sliding tracks 20 until arcuated cut-outs 24 meet forming a complete circle fully enveloping without touching either the elongated shaft, the extension shaft or the decoupling shaft whichever is used.

Again referring to FIG. 1, the adjustable louvers 2 can be constructed to operate in any manner and not necessarily as shown in FIG. 1. Their number, size, shape and design is not of a critical nature.

The fan housing 1 near the rear of the front conventional propeller 15 having a suitable air intake screen 16 on top and both sides and preferably fabricated of wire screening.

The extension shaft 11 as shown in FIG. 2 or the elongated motor shaft 18 as shown in FIG. 3, however, whichever is used is inserted through the ball-bearing 21. A proper forced-fit is required to achieve satisfactory use of the ball-bearing 21.

Now referring to FIG. 4, in lieu of extension shaft 11, one end of decoupling shaft 22 is inserted forced-fit through ball-bearing 21. Protruding end of decoupling shaft 22 must be adequately spaced from removable halves of barrier panel 12.

And now referring to FIG. 6, sliding slot 19 is provided on both sides of housing 1 directly behind air intake screen 16 thereby allowing the two halves of the removable barrier panel 12 to be inserted into the sliding slots 19 on both sides of fan housing 1. Both halves of the barrier panel 12 must be firmly but not permanently secured into their respective sliding slot 19 so that their removal will be a simple operation. The design and shape of the barrier panel halves 12 need not necessarily conform to that of drawing; other shapes and design may be substituted if found more advantageous, Its composition preferably of a material that is light and yet strong enough to repel the direction of air flow provided by the modified rear propeller 8; its composition must be able to dampen and absorb sound to a satisfactory degree.

The operation of the invention is equally as simple as that of a conventional ventilating fan and yet considerably more versatile and effective. After the fan has been activated only a positioning of the louvers is required to control the dispersion of air flow in any desired direction.

When the fan is in motion the rear blade 8 will thrust a flow of air towards the removable barrier panel 12 thereby blocked and thus reversing its direction and exiting through the opened adjustable louvers providing a continuous flow of air in three different directions at one time; from the top and from both sides of the embodiment of the invention. The conventional type front propeller 15 will provide a dispersion of air in a forward direction thereby adding a fourth direction of air flow to the three previously mentioned.

Again referring to FIG. 3, the two conventional type propellers 15a and 15b are rotated about a common axis of rotation regarded as the elongated motor shaft 18. The conventional type real propeller 15b is used in lieu of the modified propeller 8 and motor 17 is used in lieu of motor 3 and the extension shaft 11, however the performance of the ventilating fan is not altered.

An additional object of the improved ventilating fan is that it can be adapted to perform as a conventional type fan by merely closing all the adjustable louvers 2, and removing the barrier panel 12.

Another additional object of the invention is that another direction of air flow can be obtained by merely placing louvers at the bottom of housing 1. If this is accomplished the fan to perform satisfactorily must be used in a suspended manner.

Still another additional object of the invention is that it can function effectively without direct coupling of the two propellers as shown in FIG. 4. Both halves of the barrier panel 12 are removed. When the motor 3 is in motion, propeller 8 will rotate and propel propeller merely by its close proximity, An efficient portion of flow of air will exit through the opened adjustable louvers 2, thereby retaining its ability to provide a flow of air in four different directions at one time without interval interruptions.

Other additional objects are that when two separate motors are contained within two separate housings and the two housings are firmly but not permanently attached, the unit can operate as one fan but when the two housings are separated and the two halves of the barrier panel 12 are removed, the fan can then be operated as two individual units. A variable speed control can be added to further the versatility of the device.

A protective screen 23 is is fastened on front of fan housing 1 as shown in FIG. 7. A shock-absorber clamp 13 is fastened at each corner of bottom horizontal member of protective screen 23 with remaining end of shockabsorber clamps 13 secured to bottom of interior of fan housing. A protective screen 23 is also fastened to back of fan housing 1 in same manner.

I claim:

1. An improvement in ventilating fans comprising a generally rectangular-shaped housing embodying the invention: having two propellers rotated about a common axis of rotation; an electric motor mounted on a bracket secured to back of said housing; said motor having a horizontally extended elongated shaft; a plurality of adjustable louvers along top and both sides near rear of said housing; an air intake screen fastened over narrow area along top and both sides near front of said housing; two apertures mnning full length vertically along their respective side near center of said housing; a first sliding track horizontally fastened along top near center of interior of said housing; a second sliding track parallel to said first sliding track fastened along bottom of interior of said housing; a ball-bearing bracket secured to top and bottom of interior of said housing directly behind said two sliding tracks; two removable barrier panel halves each having an arcuated cut-out at center of one edge; a ball-bearing encased in housing of said ball-bearing bracket; a first of two protective screens fastened to back of said housing: a second protective screen fastened to front of said housing; shock-absorber clamps fastened at one end to each corner of horizontal bottom member of said protective screens with remaining end of said shock-absorber clamps secured to bottom of interior of said housing; a first propeller mounted on said elongated shaft forced-fitted through said ball-bearing thereby, reducing vibrations and allOWing smoother operation; a second propeller mounted on remaining portion of said elongated shaft; said barrier panel halves inserted into their respective said apertures and slid along said sliding tracks until said cut-outs meet forming a complete circle fully enveloping said elongated shaft without touching thereby, providing a removable wall completely dividing said housing into two individual sections wherein said two propellers are separately enclosed; said first propeller discharging a flow of air in a forward direction which is blocked by said removable barrier panel halves thus reversing its direction and exiting through plurality of said adjustable louvers; said second propeller discharging a flow of air in a forward unblocked direction.

2. An improvement in ventilating fans comprising a generally rectangular-shaped housing embodying the invention; having two propellers rotated about a common axis of rotation; a first propeller having both a front and back shaft coupling; an electric motor mounted on a bracket secured to back of said housing; said motor having a horizontally extended short shaft; a plurality of adjustable louvers along top and both sides near rear of said housing: an air intake screen fastened over narrow area along top and both sides near front of said housing; two apertures running full length along their respective side near center of said housing; a first sliding track horizontally fastened along top near center of interior of said housing; a second sliding track parallel to said first sliding track fastened along bottom of interior of said housing; a ball-bearing bracket secured to top and bottom of.said housing directly behind said two sliding tracks; two removable barrier panel halves each having an arcuated cut-out at center of one edge; a ball-bearing encased in housing of said ball-bearing bracket; a first of two protective screens fastened to back of said housing; a second protective screen fastened to front of said housing; shock-absorber clamps fastened at one end to each corner of horizontal bottom member of said protective screens with remaining end of said shock-absorber clamps secured to bottom of interior of said housing; said short shaft secured to said back shaft coupling; said extension shaft secured at one end to said front shaft coupling; said extension shaft forced-fitted through said ball-bearing thereby, reducing vibrations and allowing smoother operation; a second propeller mounted on remaining portion of said extension shaft; said barrier panel halves inserted into their respective said apertures and slid along said sliding tracks until said cut-outs meet forming a complete circle fully enveloping said extension shaft without touching thereby, providing a wall completely dividing said housing into two individual sections wherein said two propellers are separately enclosed; said first propeller discharging a flow of air in a forward direction which is blocked by said removable barrier panel halves thus reversing its direction and exiting through plurality of said adjustable louvers; said second propeller discharging a flow of air in a forward unblocked direction.

3. An improvement in ventilating fans comprising a generally rectangular-shaped housing embodying the invention; having two propellers rotated about two separate axis of rotation; an electrode motor mounted on a bracket secured to back of said housing; said motor having a horizontally extended short shaft; a decoupling shaft; a plurality of adjustable louvers along top and both sides near of said housing; an air intake screen fastened over narrow area along top and both sides near front of said housing; a ball-bearing bracket secured to top and bottom about center of interior of said housing; a ball-bearing encased in housing of said ball-bearing bracket; a first of two protective screens fastened to back of said housing; a second protective screen fastened to front of said housing; shock-absorber clamps fastened at one end to each corner of horizontal bottom member of said protective screens with remaining end of said shock-absorber clamps secured to bottom of interior of said housing; a first propeller mounted on said short shaft; said decoupling shaft forced-fitted through said ball-bearing thereby, providing an easier free-wheeling rotation of a second propeller mounted on remaining portion of said decoupling shaft; said first propeller discharging a flow of air in a forward direction thereby, putting into motion merely by its close-proximity said second propeller; said flow of air reversing its direction after striking and propelling said separately attached sec- 5 0nd propeller thereby, exiting through plurality of said adjustable louvers; said second propeller discharging a flow of air in an unblocked forward direction.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,630,267 3/1953 Ostrognai 230-259 2,865,277 12/1958 Howe 230-274 X 6 2,928,590 3/1960 Gow 230-259 2,981,464 4/1961 Omohundro 230-259 3,089,314 5/1963 Speaker 230-259 X 5 LEONARD H. GERlN, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 415-148, 170, 198 

